Method of generating printed interactive document

Abstract

A method of generating a printed interactive document is provided. The document comprises graphical information for a user and a plurality of tags. Each tag contains coded data identifying the document and a location of that tag on the document. The method comprises the steps of: (a) allocating and recording a document identity in a computer system; (b) determining a page description for the document in the computer system, said page description comprising a description of graphical information and a description of an interactive element which includes a zone of the interactive element on the document; (c) associating the document identity with the page description in the computer system; and (d) sending at least part of the page description and the document identity to a printer networked with the computer system. The method enables the printer to generate the tags and print the document onto a substrate.

1. A method of generating a printed interactive document, said document comprising graphical information for a user and coded data identifying the document and a plurality of locations on the document, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) allocating and recording a document identity in a computer system; 
 (b) determining a page description for the document in the computer system, said page description comprising a description of graphical information and a description of an interactive element which includes a zone of the interactive element on the document; 
 (c) associating the document identity with the page description in the computer system; 
 (d) sending at least part of the page description and the document identity to a printer networked with the computer system, 
 
     thereby enabling the printer to generate the coded data and print the document onto a substrate. 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printed document enables a user to request a further copy of at least one page of the document. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2 , comprising the further steps of:
 receiving, in the computer system, indicating data from a sensing device operated by a user, said indicating data identifying the document and a position of the sensing device relative to the document; 
 identifying, in the computer system and with reference to the zone of the interactive element, a request for a copy of at least one page of the document; 
 sending, from the computer system to a printer, document data based on the a description of the at least one page requested. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the computer system receives from the sensing device data identifying the sensing device and/or the user. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the indicating data identifies movement of the sensing device relative to the printed document. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of:
 printing the document onto the substrate. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the coded data is defined by a plurality of tags, each tag identifying the document and its own location on the document. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tags are printed together with the graphical information. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tags are substantially invisible in the visible spectrum. 
   
   
     10. A system for generating a printed interactive document, said document comprising graphical information for a user and coded data identifying the document and a plurality of locations on the document, said system comprising a computer system configured for:
 (a) allocating and recording a document identity; 
 (b) determining a page description for the document, said page description comprising a description of graphical information and a description of an interactive element which includes a zone of the interactive element on the document; 
 (c) associating the document identity with the page description; 
 (d) sending at least part of the page description and the document identity to a printer networked with the computer system, 
 
     thereby enabling the printer to generate the coded data and print the document onto a substrate. 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the printed document enables a user to request a further copy of at least one page of the document. 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer system is further configured for:
 receiving indicating data from a sensing device operated by a user, said indicating data identifying the document and a position of the sensing device relative to the document; 
 identifying, with reference to the zone of the interactive element, a request for a copy of at least one page of the document; and 
 sending to a printer document data based on a description of the at least one page requested. 
 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer system is configured to receive from the sensing device data identifying the sensing device and/or the user. 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the indicating data identifies movement of the sensing device relative to the printed document. 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a printer for printing the document onto the substrate. 
 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the coded data is defined by a plurality of tags, each tag identifying the document and its own location on the document. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the printer is configured to print the tags together with the graphical information. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the tags are substantially invisible in the visible spectrum.